In briefs 8212; Pune

Born in Kolhapur on March 25, 1937, Phadnis served in various Marathi newspapers and started his career with Lokmitra under stewardship of socialist leader late S M Joshi.

He later worked with Kesari, Rastramat,Madgaon, Goa and Maharashtra Times. He also served the language news agency Samachar for nearly a decade. After retirement he was incharge of the editorial department of daily Pudhari, here.

Known for his investigative stories, Phadanis bagged various awards for best news coverages.

8220;In the death of Phadnis we have lost a studied journalist who closely watched the politics in the state,8221; Chief Minister Narayan Rane said in his condolence message.

Move to abolish expert post flayed
SATARA: Ajinkyatara Cooperative Sugar Factory chairman Shivendraraje Bhosale stated recently that the factory8217;s board of directors has decided to oppose the State Government8217;s plan to abolish the post of technical director in cooperative sugar factories.

Bhosale said that the sugar directorate had amended the by-laws of the factories to abolish the technical director8217;s post. The sugar directorate had suggested that the amendment be approved at the general body meeting of the sugar factory.

Shivendraraje, son of former State minister Abhaysinhraje Bhosale, accused the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance of continuing with its policy of creating hurdles for the sugar industry in Maharashtra.

The post of technical director exists at all sugar factories in the state and persons like former State chief minister Vasantdada Patil, a veteran in the field of cooperation, have occupied the post in different sugar factories, Bhosale said.

Hazare continues with fast
PUNE: Soldier-turned-social activist Anna Hazare celebrated the 52nd Independence Day at the temple town of Alandi near here by refusing food on the seventh day of his eleven-day self-introspection fast.

Hazare unfurled the national tricolour at a private engineering college at Alandi where he exhorted the students to dedicate their services to the betterment of the country. Hazare reiterated to a group of warkaris, pilgrims, who had come all the way from Dehu and Pandharpur in the evening, that he would extend his fast beyond the eleven days if the wisdom that he was seeking from Saint Dnyaneshwar to end corruption, did not not reveal itself to him. Earlier, a rally was organised from the Yerawada Jail here to Alandi. While addressing the participants in the rally.